Hanoi Highlights

Top Must-Try Foods in Hanoi

10 Best Hanoi Dishes

The best Hanoi dishes are inexpensive yet tasty treats that can be found within
Hanoi Old Quarter’s narrow alleyways and bustling street markets. Compared to
other cities in Vietnam, Hanoi food tends to be on the sweeter side and utilises
freshwater ingredients such as prawns, squids, shrimps, crabs, clams, and
mussels. You can also find familiar Vietnamese street food such as pho noodles,
spring rolls, rolled cakes, and skewered meat. As with many dishes in Vietnam,
diners are always served with platters of fresh greens and herbs as well as the
quintessential nuoc cham dipping sauce as accompaniment. Since a trip to Hanoi
is not complete without sampling its traditional delicacies, here’s a list of
the top must-try foods in Hanoi.

1. Cha Ca (Turmeric Fish with Dill)

A distinctive Hanoi delicacy, cha ca is white fish seasoned with garlic, ginger,
turmeric, and dill served on sizzling pan. Diners also get a bowl of rice
noodles, peanuts, chopped spring onions, parsley, nuoc cham sauce, and red chili
slices, all of which are meant to be mixed together with the turmeric fish. Cha
ca is so popular amongst locals that there’s a street in Hanoi Old Quarter named
after it, though the best (and affordable) places to enjoy this seafood delicacy
is at Cha Ca Thang Long in Duong Thanh Street.
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 22:00
Address: 21 Duong Thanh Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi

Bun thang or rice vermicelli with chicken, egg and pork can be enjoyed at any
time of the day. The clear yet flavourful broth is made with 20 ingredients,
including dried shrimp, squid, shrimp paste, spring onion, coriander, ginger,
mushroom, beet, fish sauce, sugar candy, and vinegar. It is also a particularly
attractive Hanoi dish as the noodles, chicken, eggs, pork slices, and a dollop
of shrimp paste are carefully arranged to resemble a flower. Available mostly
within Hanoi Old Quarter, we highly recommend Bun Thang Ba Duc as you can enjoy
a generous bowl of bun thang for about VND 35,000.
Opening Hours: Daily 18:00 – 22:00
Address: 48 Cao Go, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

4. Banh cuon (Rolled Cake)

Great as a light breakfast or midday snack, banh cuon is a combination of ground
meat (chicken, shrimp, or pork), minced wood ear mushroom, onions, Vietnamese
ham (cha lua), steamed beansprouts, and cucumbers that’s wrapped in a steamed
rice flour sheet., Its overall taste is very mild despite the savoury
ingredients, and you can also dip the banh cuon into nuoc cham sauce for added
flavour. You can easily spot roadside vendors selling banh cuon all over Hanoi,
but Banh Cuon Gia Truyen in Old Quarter is a good alternative as the restaurant
provides menus with English translations.
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 – 21:00
Address: 14 Hang Ga Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi

5. Banh Goi (Fried Dumplings)

Shaped like miniature pillows (hence the name), banh goi contains finely-chopped
glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms, minced pork, steamed quail eggs, and
seasoning within a rice-flour pastry. It is then deep-fried for a crispy texture
and served with a sweet-sour dipping sauce made with garlic, chilli, sugar, lime
juice, and fish sauce. You can also pair your banh goi with fresh lettuce and
coriander leaves if you find it too greasy to enjoy it on its own.
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 – 21:00
Address: 52 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Pho may be best known as rice noodles served in soup, but you can also enjoy it
in the form of pho xao, which is stir-fried with onions, beef slices, and
assorted greens. The flat pho noodles are usually crisp on the outside with a
smooth glutinous texture, and most restaurants sometimes add fried eggs and
chilli sauce to this simple yet satisfying dish. Thin is a family-run restaurant
within Hai Ba Trung District, where you can savour pho xao for only VND
50,000.
Opening Hours: Daily 06:00 – 15:00
Address: 13 Lo Duc, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi

8. Nem Cua Be (Crab Rolls)

A popular Vietnamese street food, nem chua be (crabmeat rolls) are sold in street
markets and local restaurants within Hanoi – a good choice is Bun Cha Nem Cua Be
Dac Kim in Hanoi Old Quarter. This crispy snack is shaped like a square and cut
into bite-sized pieces, containing generous fillings of minced crab, pork,
mushrooms, and various spices. Eat like the locals do by pairing nem chua with
fresh herbs and lettuce, as well as dipping it in nuoc cham sauce.
Opening Hours: Daily 11:00 – 19:00
Address: 67 Duong Thanh Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi

9. Chim Quay (BBQ Pigeon)

If you’re an adventurous food lover, then chim quay at Chim Quay Bit Tet is a
must-try when you’re in Hanoi. A less fatty version of a Chinese-style roast
duck, this dish comprises a whole pigeon seasoned with various spices and
barbecued until crispy. Another variation of this dish is the nom chim quay,
which is BBQ pigeon served atop a bed of lettuce, cooked onions, carrots, and
papaya slices.
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00 – 23:00
Address: 20 Hang Giay Street, Old Quarter, Hanoi